The Central Coast is known for its rich hinterland, abundant with farm fresh food produce. Dotted throughout the region, these farms are bringing locals and visitors from afar, offering poultry, eggs, seasonal fruit, flowers, vegetables and more.
Because the weather can hasten or delay the availability of produce, it’s always safer to check individual Facebook pages for live updates before you leave home.
PICK YOUR OWN FLOWERS
BLOOM BARN FARM, Peats Ridge
Wander through the fields of gold and pick some yellow happiness at this family-owned sunflower farm. Ivan and his team can also create floral arrangements for weddings, and the fields are a popular location for photography sessions. There’s also a farm stall at the front gate, open daily. Other flowers, such as Christmas Bush, in season are sometimes available. Check Facebook for blooming updates.
Where: 1154 Peats Ridge Road, Peats Ridge
Bookings essential: thebloombarn.com.au
Image courtesy: Bloom Barn Farm
THE GIVING FARM
This organic-certified farm thrives on working with nature and offers pick-your-own seasonal flowers including spring daffodils, tulips, Dutch iris and ranunculus. From October to November there are blueberries, lilies, dahlias and gladiolus. And in November you can pick sunflowers and zinnias. The kids (and you) will love the babydoll sheep, milking goats, chickens, horses and more. Try the herbs, garlic, eggs and honey available at the farm gate.
Where: 147 Durren Road, Jilliby
Check: facebook.com/TheGivingFarmAU for live updates or visit The Giving Farm.
Image courtesy: The Giving Farm
HORSESHOE VALLEY FARM, Dooralong Valley
This 32-hectare family-owned farm offers pick-your-own seasonal field-grown flowers including dahlias, zinnias and sunflowers. You can also buy single-source pure raw honey, and chemical-free, grassfed meats. This small farm runs ticketed event days only, so bookings are essential. The children will love lambs to feed during the lambing season. Sorry no pets (for safety) other than the farm’s Maremma sheep-guardian dogs.
Where: 830 Dicksons Rd, Dooralong
Bookings: facebook.com/horseshoevalleyfarm or visit Horseshoe valley Farm.
Image courtesy: Horseshoe Valley Farm
PICK YOUR OWN FRUIT
MELIORA FARM, Peats Ridge
During Spring you can pick your own Navel oranges, lemons and Hass avocados on this very family-friendly 100-year-old farm. Open 10 am to 3 pm, bring a picnic basket and blanket and you are welcome to enjoy the fresh air and scenery.
Where: 1504 Peats Ridge Road, Peats Ridge
Bookings essential: Meloria Farm
Image courtesy: Meloria Farm
CEDAR FARM, Dooralong
Jack and Kay run this century-old family farm with its 3,000 citrus trees. You can pick your own Navel oranges from September to October, or Valencia oranges in November. No chemical sprays are used on the farm. It’s a great family day out with haycart and pony rides, weather permitting. Dogs on leads are welcome too. The farm is open 10 am to 4 pm, no bookings required.
Where: 48 Dittons Road, Dooralong
Check: Facebook for juicy live updates or visit Cedar Farm.
Image courtesy: Cedar Farm
VEGGIES FROM THE FARM GATE
MARGINS MUSHROOMS, Woy Woy
You can purchase bags of mushrooms – white mushrooms, Swiss browns and oyster mushrooms – from the farm shed, and the farmer will even show you the patch where your mushrooms were picked fresh that day. The farm also offers 15-person tours of their family-run mushroom farm (great for club outings). Learn all about growing mushrooms and receive a large bag of mushies to take home. Open Monday to Saturday.
Where: 536 Woy Woy Road, Woy Woy
Bookings: Margins Mushrooms
Image courtesy: Margins Mushrooms
ALAN FOODS, Jilliby
This permaculture market garden sells chemical-free fruit and vegetables including herbs, microgreens, zucchini, capsicum, eggplant and snow peas. The farm gate stall is open on Friday afternoons or you can order veggie boxes up to 9 pm Thursdays for pick up Friday to Sunday
Where: 58 Dickens Road, Jilliby
Orders: Alan Foods
Image courtesy: Alan Foods
FANELLI ORGANICS, Mangrove Mountain
This regenerative farm in Mangrove Mountains grows certified organic fruit and veg. Pre-order your produce and it will be harvested fresh from the farm’s paddock on the day of collection. Pick up on Sundays from 10 am to 2 pm.
Where: 10 Pembertons Hill Road, Mangrove Mountain
Orders: Fanelli Organics
Imag courtesy: Fanelli Organics
LITTLE FEET GOURMET, Ourimbah
A small-scale market garden that uses regenerative practices to grow chemical-free veggies including beetroot, kale, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, onions, leeks, garlic and lots more. Purchase from their farm gate open most weekends through the growing season. You can also order their mixed seasonal veg boxes, picked fresh and offering a huge variety of veggies and herbs. Orders close Friday 10 am for pick-up on Saturday.
Where: 197 Ourimbah Creek Road, Ourimbah
Orders: Little Feet Gourmet
Image courtesy: Little Feet Gourmet
GRASSFED MEATS FROM THE FARM GATE
GRACE SPRINGS FARM, Kulnura
As well as offering farm tours, Grace Spring Farm’s focus is on sustainable, regenerative farming, producing chemical-free, grass-fed dairy beef, pastured eggs, chemical-free veggies, garlic and honey. Pre-order for weekly pick-ups.
Where: 1128 George Downes Drive, Kulnura
Orders: Grace Springs Farm
See also: HORSESHOE VALLEY FARM listed previously.
Image courtesy: Grace Springs Farm
